This is somewhat of a monumental moment for us all -- Ben, Jacob and myself have completed the Two Towers and have blogged on two of three of the books! Quite an accomplishment, if I may say so! Why, I think even Samwise Gamgee would be rightfully impressed.
The chapter is good and provides a necessary conclusion to the cliffhanger in Shelob's lair. As Ben notes, this chapter, and the previous, is where Sam finally becomes more than a blubbering fool. As the orcs note, Sam succeeded in needling Shelob, which no warrior (great or small) had ever done before.
While Sam's dilemma and taking the Ring is good prose, the chapter really becomes interesting when Sam starts to listen into the orcs. The conversation immediately gives an insight into orc culture: they just want to be free and set up shop somewhere else . Orcs clearly hate working for Sauron, but they know that the people on the other side of the gate would treat orcs even worse. The orcs, if they even have a choice, ally themselves with the power that at least could give them some more "space."
Of course, the revelation that Frodo is not dead is the real shocker. I still remember that moment when I learned he was not dead, and it is a powerful moment. Now, on reread, since I know the plot, that revelation had less impact. Rather, I enjoyed paying more attention to Shagrat's and Gorbag's conversation as to a window into Mordor culture. It's clear that the orcs aren't blind automatons of evil. They have desires and hopes and opinions like everyone else in Middle Earth. And ambition. Both Gorbag and Shagrat want a piece of the assumed reward for finding the hobbit.
And, as I remember, the orcs' ambition and irritable nature is yet another provincial windfall that allows Frodo to ultimately succeed in his quest. That is to say, evil proves its own undoing.
Hooray, we're all caught up at last!
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